Apply online - late applications and late changes of preferences
Applications for secondary school entry in September 2026 opened on 1 September 2025, and the statutory closing date was 31 October 2025.
Late applications opened on 1 November 2025. All applications are now classed as late, regardless of the circumstances. Late applications will be processed after 2 March 2026
Late applicants are less likely to get a place at one of their preferred schools for their child, as most schools in Birmingham fill to their published admissions numbers with on time applicants who met their admissions criteria.
List six different secondary schools in order of preference.
If your child attends any of the following all-through schools in Year 6, do not list the school as one of your six preferences. Your child will automatically move up from Year 6 to Year 7 in September 2026, and listing the school as a preference will waste one of your preferences.
- Ark Kings Academy
- Ark Victoria Academy
- Bournville School
- Star King Solomon Academy
- Washwood Heath Academy
- Waverley School
Ensure you include details of any siblings attending your preferred school(s) in the field (box) provided for sibling details. Sibling details included in the wrong field (box), such as reasons for preference, will not be counted and may prevent you from gaining a place at your preferred school. If you fill in the online application incorrectly, you are liable for not completing the form correctly, not the School Admissions and Fair Access Service.
Make sure you have read the admission arrangements fully for the schools you are interested in and know how likely it is that your child will be offered a place there. It is important that you include at least one realistic preference for a school that your child would have met the criteria for in previous years.
If you have included preferences for any schools that require you to complete a supplementary information form or include social and medical needs in the criteria and require you to send evidence, you must send the supplementary information form and/or any required supporting medical evidence directly to the school. Failure to do this may mean that your child’s application is assessed by the school under a lower criterion, and they may not be offered a place.
Do not use this application form if your child has an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP). For children with an EHCP, visit the SENAR Local Offer website.
Before you submit your application
Read the guidance below before submitting your online application.
Download Parent’s guidance to submit online application, change of preferences and password resets
Apply online
You will receive an email confirmation that you have submitted your application form. Please check this to make sure everything is correct.
Late applications
Late applications opened on 1 November 2025.
Any applications received for secondary transfer after 31 October 2025 will be considered only after on time applications have been processed, which will be after 2 March 2026.
Late changes of preferences
If you amend your preferences, you must resubmit your application form before the closing date.
If you don’t resubmit the form, your application cannot be processed. We will use your final submission as the application to process.
The closing date for late applications and late changes of preferences is 31 July 2026. If you miss this date, you must apply directly to your preferred schools using the In-Year application form.
Important: do not use this form if your child has an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP). For children with an EHCP, visit the SENAR Local Offer website.
Page last updated: 10 November 2025
